Hi I was wondering if anyone is familiar with an older Harrison Metal Lathe? Its a large floor model capable of doing barrel work. Made in England. Looks like a quality machine. Its supposed to still be within spec and more than accurate enough for most gunsmithing tasks. Only problem is the chuck is missing. Its being offered for sale for $500.00. I'm wondering how hard it would be to source a replacement chuck for it? Anyone own/use a Harrison? What is their reputation?
Harrison Metal Lathes?
- Thread starter X-man
- Start date
Chuck should be no problem, they are standard, like tires, sort of. Do you have a photo of the headstock? Is it threaded? $500 for a working lathe in good nick sounds like a deal. You should be able to get a chuck at KBC tools.
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x2. Don't worry about the chuck. You want to be satisfied that the machine is in good order, all gears, etc. functional, no excessive wear.
Harrison was an established make, but I am not particularly familiar with them. Is the spindle nose threaded, or does it use a camlock mount?
At $500, it is a screaming bargoon, IF it is a decent machine. That is the catch, so you will want to go over it end to end. Another consideration, what are its electrical requirements? Even if you have to buy additional tooling, new or used, your total investment will be reasonable.
Harrison was an established make, but I am not particularly familiar with them. Is the spindle nose threaded, or does it use a camlock mount?
At $500, it is a screaming bargoon, IF it is a decent machine. That is the catch, so you will want to go over it end to end. Another consideration, what are its electrical requirements? Even if you have to buy additional tooling, new or used, your total investment will be reasonable.
bushwhacker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Manitoulin Island
We had 13" swing Harrison's in our school shop along with one 15". The price is OK, and you can certainly get a chuck and baseplate adapter to fit it, but check to see if it is wired for 3 phase power, and if so, get an estimate to convert it to what you have available before closng the deal.
AFAIK Harrison did not use anything odd sized or unique for mounting their chucks.
Were it offered to me, runnable, or recently running, and it had not been in a major fire, I'd grab it and work out the details later.
If I am correct, there is only one or two motors on the machine, the main one, and possibly one for the coolant pump. Likely the main one is a 460 volt, or somwhere near there, if it was in an industrial shop. The coolant motor, maybe same, or a lower voltage. Neither is a big deal to replace if you can scrounge around a bit.
I would expect to pay out another grand or so getting it tooled up (mixed used and new tooling) and getting it rigged to run.
Don't get tied up in thinking that the costs are more than th elathe cost. The lathe is coming cheap! If you can crank all the handles, and it moves smoothly, and it runs without to many graunchy noises (if it is still under power) it's a steal of a deal at the price.
Even if the bed is VERY worn, it is capable of doing good work, as you will be using very short distances where you require threads, and the longer runs, such as profiling barrels, will be able to be cleaned up and blended if required, while polishing or blasting, as the case may be.
Harrison is still making lathes. They are part of the 600 Group companies. Good stuff!
Cheers
Trev
Were it offered to me, runnable, or recently running, and it had not been in a major fire, I'd grab it and work out the details later.
If I am correct, there is only one or two motors on the machine, the main one, and possibly one for the coolant pump. Likely the main one is a 460 volt, or somwhere near there, if it was in an industrial shop. The coolant motor, maybe same, or a lower voltage. Neither is a big deal to replace if you can scrounge around a bit.
I would expect to pay out another grand or so getting it tooled up (mixed used and new tooling) and getting it rigged to run.
Don't get tied up in thinking that the costs are more than th elathe cost. The lathe is coming cheap! If you can crank all the handles, and it moves smoothly, and it runs without to many graunchy noises (if it is still under power) it's a steal of a deal at the price.
Even if the bed is VERY worn, it is capable of doing good work, as you will be using very short distances where you require threads, and the longer runs, such as profiling barrels, will be able to be cleaned up and blended if required, while polishing or blasting, as the case may be.
Harrison is still making lathes. They are part of the 600 Group companies. Good stuff!
Cheers
Trev
if it has a quick change gear box it gives you some of the non-conforning thread pitches like 10,1/2; 11; 13 for older restoration and some of the toolroom lathes had lead screw kick out and the ability to reverse lead screw to feed back to start which makes screw cutting to a shoulder a delight especially internals
I have owned a couple of Harrisons, and own one now. Thet are an excellent machine, much higher in quality than most lathes that your average gunsmith has. $500.00 is a steal for one, how much length do you have between centres?
All older model Harrisons have either a threaded spindle nose or an L-0 or L-00 spindle nose , all are available . Don't buy anything from KBC, their prices are a joke. Ebay is your friend. Get the model of the lathe, and pm me.
All older model Harrisons have either a threaded spindle nose or an L-0 or L-00 spindle nose , all are available . Don't buy anything from KBC, their prices are a joke. Ebay is your friend. Get the model of the lathe, and pm me.
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
Harrisons are like South Bends. Good quality machines. One of the few still in production also. You need to post some pics. They tell a better story.
Harrisons are in a totally different class of tool than Southbends are. Southbends are a good light weight hobby lathe. Harrisons are a much more "industrial" machine, heavier, much more rigid, higher speeds, much better bearings, ...
Any inch lathe can cut metric threads with the proper transposition gears. The current and last couple of modelsof Harrisons have an inch-metric-module-diametrical pitch selectable quick change gear box. The older roundhead Harrisons (built up to the early '70's) are generally either inch lathes or metric lathes. On some models an inch-metric quick change was an option.
Any inch lathe can cut metric threads with the proper transposition gears. The current and last couple of modelsof Harrisons have an inch-metric-module-diametrical pitch selectable quick change gear box. The older roundhead Harrisons (built up to the early '70's) are generally either inch lathes or metric lathes. On some models an inch-metric quick change was an option.
